Rapid decline requiring skilled intervention that is unable to be managed in their current care setting

Respite Level of Care:

Will be provided on an as needed basis for up to five days per Medicare regulations for those currently on hospice care

Routine Level of Care:

For patients who do not qualify for the Inpatient Level of Care, but wish to access their hospice benefit and pay privately for room and board charges ($385 per day) in order to reside in the Aroostook House of Comfort until death occurs. Sliding scale may be available for those who qualify.

Home Health Eligibility

Home Health services focus on recovery, quality of life, independence and help to reduce ER visits and hospital re-admissions. Our highly skilled nurses, therapists, social workers and aides offer expertise in managing complex patient needs and will work closely with your practice to coordinate a continuum of care for your patients.

Services Include:

Skilled Nursing

Physical, Occupational, Speech Therapies

Medical Social Work

Wound Care

Telehealth

Palliative Care

Home Health Aides

Home Health Eligibility Guidelines:

In order for a patient to be eligible for the Medicare home health benefit, all 5 of the following criteria must be met:

Be confined to the home - Homebound (Note: Some private insurers do not require homebound)

Requires skilled services (Such as Nursing, PT, OT, SLP, MSW)

Remains under the care of a physician

Receives services under a plan of care established and reviewed by a physician

Face-to-Face encounter (within 90 days prior to or within 30 days following start of home care) **Face-to-Face form is no longer required documentation**

Definition of Homebound: A patient must be confined to their home to be eligible for the Medicare home health benefit. (Note: Some private insurers do not require homebound)

Criteria One: One standard must be met: Because of illness or injury, patient needs the aid of supportive devices such as crutches, canes, wheelchairs and/or walkers; the use of special transportation; or the assistance of another person to leave their place of residence; OR patient has a condition such that leaving his/her home would be medically contraindicated.

Criteria Two: Both standards must be met: There must exist a normal inability to leave home AND leaving home must require a considerable and taxing effort.

Note: The patient may leave home infrequently or for periods of short duration, or to receive health care treatment. This includes, medical appointments, religious services, adult day care centers for medical care, and for other unique and infrequent events such as funerals, graduations and hair appointments.

POLST & Advance Directives

Advance Directive: This is called different things in different states (e.g., living will, health care power of attorney) but, regardless of the term, this describes a legal document you use to provide guidance about what types of treatments you may want to receive in case of a future, unknown medical emergency. It also is where you say who can speak for you to make medical treatment decisions when you cannot speak for yourself (called a "surrogate"). All adults should have an advance directive. Download Here

Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) Form: A POLST Form is a medical order for the specific medical treatments you want during a medical emergency. Only individuals with a serious illness or advanced frailty near the end-of-life should have this form. Learn more about POLST here

They work together! All adults should have an advance directive, but it is only when you are diagnosed with a serious illness or frailty that you should consider a POLST Form.

At Northern Light Health, we’re building a better approach to healthcare because we believe people deserve access to care that works for them. As an integrated health delivery system serving Maine, we’re raising the bar with no-nonsense solutions that are leading the way to a healthier future for our state. Our more than 12,000 team members are committed to making healthcare work for you: our patients, communities, and employees.